Displaying Front Plate In CA

[hans_fh]

I am from Utah and we do have law requiring vehicles to display their front plate because two plates are issued. However, a lot of people in Utah do not display their front plate since the cops seem never care about that.

I am driving my Yaris Sedan to Los Angeles on Aug. I do know that CA also has regulation for displaying the front plate. I am just wondering if it is really strict? If I do not display the Utah's front plate in CA, will I get citation?

Thanks a lot!

[BailOut]

California cannot cite you for that as your vehicle is registered in Utah, not California. Your vehicle is beholden to the laws of the State it was registered in while you, the driver, are beholden to the laws of the State you are driving in.

[blacksan]

I am from Utah and we do have law requiring vehicles to display their front plate because two plates are issued. However, a lot of people in Utah do not display their front plate since the cops seem never care about that.

I am driving my Yaris Sedan to Los Angeles on Aug. I do know that CA also has regulation for displaying the front plate. I am just wondering if it is really strict? If I do not display the Utah's front plate in CA, will I get citation?

Thanks a lot!

In Utah that would most likely be termed "Improper Display" or something to that effect. When you travel to another state you are required to conform to that states vehicles codes as they pertain to safety, and proper vehicle registration. Having that rear tag displayed with proper, and updated registration should be all you need to be concerned about. When LEO in CA see the vehicle with no front tag they will most likely consider it to be out of state, and possibly take a look in the rear view to make shore you have a back tag. So, don't do anything dumb and you should be ok.

Google CA motor vehicle code and see what you can find. Most states have a searchable data base on criminal and vehicle code.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vc/vc.htm

Why don't folks put the front tag on in UTAH?

[fmicle]

It's funny, I've lived in CA for 3 years now and still haven't fully understood how this works. AFAIK you can request at DMV to be issued only 1 license plate, for the rear, so I don't see why it should be a problem for anyone. When I inquired about this, I was told, as long as you've been given 2 plates, you have to install both of them. That's kinda funny, how is anyone supposed to know how many plates I got from DMV? There is no sign on the plate, how are the cops supposed to know? They log on the DMV server and quickly check whether I'm supposed to have 2 plates or 1? I don't think so...

Anyone who can shed more light on this? Just for curiosity.

[blacksan]

It's funny, I've lived in CA for 3 years now and still haven't fully understood how this works. AFAIK you can request at DMV to be issued only 1 license plate, for the rear, so I don't see why it should be a problem for anyone. When I inquired about this, I was told, as long as you've been given 2 plates, you have to install both of them. That's kinda funny, how is anyone supposed to know how many plates I got from DMV? There is no sign on the plate, how are the cops supposed to know? They log on the DMV server and quickly check whether I'm supposed to have 2 plates or 1? I don't think so...

Anyone who can shed more light on this? Just for curiosity.

Are some of the older tags in CA a single issue?

[blacksan]

Here is the California Vehicle Code.

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html

CVC 5200 appears to deal with 2 tag display.

[BailOut]

Again, though, if the vehicle is registered in Utah who gives a flying hooyah what California's laws are?

[blacksan]

who gives a flying hooyah what California's laws are?

That isn't necessarily %100.00 correct. For instance window tint variations, mud flaps, turn indicators, and fenders on your sand rail/dune buggy are just a few examples that come to mind. When you operate your vehicle in a state your vehicle must conform to said laws to be deemed compliant to operate on their highways. The proper display of your tags might not be a charge applicable in CA, but other things like I mentioned most certainly are.

[Mead]

Hey, Welcome to the People's Republic of California. Here's your welcome page:

http://www.chp.ca.gov/prog/cheaters.cgi

OK I grew up in Los Angeles and lived there 30 years... here's what I can tell ya.

Front plates are required, it is probable cause to stop you for lack there of, or any % of front window tint, or anything suctioned to your windshield ie gps or radar, or not turning on headlights when the windshield wipers are on, and everyone must be buckled up including rear passengers.

As for front plates, sure, if you're visiting they'll most likely not issue you a 'fix it' ticket, BUT not having them again is probable cause to stop you and you might get a ticket for something else.

Thanks :thumbsup: drive safely

[blacksan]

As for front plates, sure, if you're visiting they'll most likely not issue you a 'fix it' ticket, BUT not having them again is probable cause to stop you and you might get a ticket for something else.

Thanks :thumbsup: drive safely

+1

I agree that the lack of tag could be used as PC for a stop even though you might not get charged with same.

In VA the Troopers are more likely to snag your ass for things like that as we are also required to display 2 tags. As a matter of fact the way the code is written here basically anything that is not OEM can get you a summons. That is how people with after-market (loud) exhaust get snaged.

[thomasward00]

I'll be staying in San Francisco with my fiance for about 6 months while I work a contract at Cisco, being a New Orleans resident my car is registered in Louisiana, which is a 1 plate state. I will be keeping my insurance and registration here in louisiana, I would never buy a car in california with all the emission controls.

[Scotty]

Haha, the emission controls huh? (all yarii have the same emission controls btw)

[Quatro]

I live in LA and ever since I got the car (which is about 6 months ago) I've been driving with no front plate. Got pulled over once, but the cop didn't even mention it.
So I guess it's no big deal since a couple of my friends don't have front plate either and they're not complaining.

[cali yaris]

not only do you have to have it on the front in CA, but it must be CENTERED. A few Scion owners from my club have been cited for this in the Los Angeles area. As for out-of-staters conforming, I don't know the law.

[Blenjar]

Again, though, if the vehicle is registered in Utah who gives a flying hooyah what California's laws are?

I agree a billion times.

I drive in NY without my front plates period plus the smoked transparent cover on my rear plate.

-- Blen

[redyaris]

Im trying to determine which state is currently more retarded: Massachusetts or California.

I'd have to go with California for the 'win'. My liberal brethren have really got it goin on out there!

[redyaris]

That isn't necessarily %100.00 correct. For instance window tint variations, mud flaps, turn indicators, and fenders on your sand rail/dune buggy are just a few examples that come to mind. When you operate your vehicle in a state your vehicle must conform to said laws to be deemed compliant to operate on their highways. The proper display of your tags might not be a charge applicable in CA, but other things like I mentioned most certainly are.

Blacksan I suspect you're a former law enforcement officer (or military officer, an MP perhaps?) with your love of firearms, your quoting of legal statutes no normal person would memorize, and your favorable backing of them constantly here. I'll bet you liked pulling people over for burned out turn signals and the like.

So with your 'logic' I have to make my car 'legal' in all 50 states and US possessions that I could potentially operate it in including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands? Not gonna happen and would be thrown out of any court.

[contraband831]

Front plates are only required if your car is worth less than 30K anything below that is an easy fix it ticket here in Cali Example i had my corolla one week w/ no license plate up front, BAM! TICKET my brother has his Infinity G35 for three years no license plate upfront, no ticket...it all depends on the car in my opinion. Or just bad luck... WELCOME TO CALIFORNIA

[yuiedie]

i think having two of the plates that you were issued displayed also has something to do with the traffic cameras here, since if you had no front plate and ran a red and the camera took a pic in front of you it couldnt get your plate numbers. not sure how cali laws apply to non-residents.

[MrJester]

Im trying to determine which state is currently more retarded: Massachusetts or California.

I'd have to go with California for the 'win'. My liberal brethren have really got it goin on out there!

Man most retarded state hands down is OH now I know a lot of people around here are form OH but I'm sorry there is something in the water around there causes issue with your brain function. I know way too many poeple my girlfriend included that are just uh having some issues HaHa :)

[smokinyaris]

California cannot cite you for that as your vehicle is registered in Utah, not California. Your vehicle is beholden to the laws of the State it was registered in while you, the driver, are beholden to the laws of the State you are driving in.

+1 yes your rite same goes for tinted windows because if you live in NV and driving around LA with tinted windows are OK...........

[static808]

personal experience?? CA is strict with the front plates, but pretty lackadaisical with front tints. family members' have gotten a few fix-it tickets for front plates over the years. shit, we've a gotten a few tickets for having the wrong year registration on our plates, even though our new stickers hadnt even arrived yet. needless to say, we fought those easily.

--B

[WRBlue]

I'll be staying in San Francisco with my fiance for about 6 months while I work a contract at Cisco, being a New Orleans resident my car is registered in Louisiana, which is a 1 plate state. I will be keeping my insurance and registration here in louisiana, I would never buy a car in california with all the emission controls.

When I moved out here 10 months ago, I kept my Jeep registered in Michigan. But its illegal to not change your insurance, because of different laws.

I actually saved $50 a month in insurance going for a MI policy to a CA policy...

Oh ya, I live a block from the police station, and I drove that Liberty for 5 months right past it every day with the one Michigan plate.

[foober]

I remember someone telling me that the state of iowa built a mentally handicapped hospital school system there. That they brought in thousands of mentally challenged folks for care. And that it raised the I.Q. level of iowa by 15 points state wide by doing that.

[REM]

I would be willing to bet that people in CA wouldn't even know if you are supposed to have a front tag or not.

[static808]

I would be willing to bet that people in CA wouldn't even know if you are supposed to have a front tag or not.

reg stickers in back only... now wheres my money!!

--B

[reznunt]

Front plates are only required if your car is worth less than 30K anything below that is an easy fix it ticket here in Cali Example i had my corolla one week w/ no license plate up front, BAM! TICKET my brother has his Infinity G35 for three years no license plate upfront, no ticket...it all depends on the car in my opinion. Or just bad luck... WELCOME TO CALIFORNIA

sad but true.

for three years, my friend has run NO plates on his e500, front nor rear, and kept his temporary window registration up. cops stop him and look at it and ask him about it. he just tells them the dmv hasn't sent him anything and they let him go. he calls it the "euro pass" lol.

[vacantj]

I been driving around the LA area with a Japanese front plate since June and I been pulled over once and the highway patrol guy was an asshole but he didn't mention the front plate but did give me a ticket for front tinted windows and mutilated drivers license (I skateboard and I usually carry my drivers license in my back pocket so it's bended but not broken into from falling on my butt - I argued but he stood firm)

[swidd]

Drive nice and follow the traffic law, and nothing bad will happen. I've been driving around for nine months with fake registration decal on out-of-state license plate (rear only) and no insurance. Also drove across the country from Florida to Nevada and L.A. without current registration decal on that plate.

Had a Las Vegas cop car pull up behind me in an intersection once, and I'm pretty sure he was checking out my plate with my fake home-made sticker, but I wasn't pulled over.

Just look in the rear view mirror, and get off the road if you see a cop pulling onto the road behind you. I've been doing this for 15,000 miles. Now that I got the Yaris I'm finally legal again though...feels good.

[Motorhead6T5]

Front plate has been off my car since day 1,its only a simple fix it ticket if you do get caught. All my cars run no front plates. I have a special temp bracket just for fix it sign offs on my 65 stang as there is not even a place to mount it on that with the shelby front.

[black2yaris]

I'll be staying in San Francisco with my fiance for about 6 months while I work a contract at Cisco, being a New Orleans resident my car is registered in Louisiana, which is a 1 plate state. I will be keeping my insurance and registration here in louisiana, I would never buy a car in california with all the emission controls.

you have a Toyota and ALL Toyota's conform to Cali emssions laws by default that way they don;t have to make 2 versions for the USA market .. look at the sticker it says all 50 states emissions rating .. BTW the Yaris is rated by Cali as a ultra-low emssion vehicle meaning that it never needs to get a 2 year smog test .. my 2001 Tacoma Pre-Runner 4 banger was the same rating , had that puupy 7 years and never had to smog it . That's what makes Toyota's Soo Cool !!

as for aftermarket stuff & tints if yer not in a drug / gang area / LA or doing something stupid to draw attention to yer self .. they don't even bother with ya .. BUT the Hiway Patrol will give you a ticket for anything once they pull you over , keeps you from complaining about undue police harassment :evil:

BUT for plates they(the CHP) have a Hard On for any thing plate related

[seanele]

sad but true.

for three years, my friend has run NO plates on his e500, front nor rear, and kept his temporary window registration up. cops stop him and look at it and ask him about it. he just tells them the dmv hasn't sent him anything and they let him go. he calls it the "euro pass" lol.

damn..i gotta try that..:smile:

[seanele]

btw..i gotta say that Pennsylvania is the coolest one of all,
when it comes to not putting front license plate..!!!

not sure if other state has similar law.

[Rain]

for three years, my friend has run NO plates on his e500, front nor rear, and kept his temporary window registration up. cops stop him and look at it and ask him about it. he just tells them the dmv hasn't sent him anything and they let him go. he calls it the "euro pass" lol.
i'm tempted to do the same. i think my Yaris is cute-r without the front tag :biggrin:

[Doug007]

I've been running 18 months without the front plate. The dealership didn't drill the holes out nor provide a bracket for mounting. I do carry the plate and have body moulding tape ready to mount if needed. My Yaris is a bit louder than stock and lowered, but as a middle-aged guy, I don't draw much attention:)

I agree with Rain, the Yaris Sedan looks much better without the front tag. I've done a few mods recently and need to post some pics.

[Rain]

I've been running 18 months without the front plate. The dealership didn't drill the holes out nor provide a bracket for mounting. I do carry the plate and have body moulding tape ready to mount if needed. My Yaris is a bit louder than stock and lowered, but as a middle-aged guy, I don't draw much attention:)

I agree with Rain, the Yaris Sedan looks much better without the front tag. I've done a few mods recently and need to post some pics.

wow. which dealership was that? should have gotten mine from them. lol.
i checked out your garage.. it looks so good without the front tag :w00t:

[Kioshi]

Well dont know if you heard, but cops have access to DMV on their laptops so they could easily pull up when your dealership sent the 2 license plates in and whatnot...like DMV can. That dealership tag will only save your ass so many times till......
If you drive normal enough, I dont think they would care. I was driving side-by-side with two cop cars on my sides in my 01 Mitsubishi Mirage. For a continuous 8 miles, nothing happened.

Go to a car meet w/ no plates, then you'll get a ticket depending on the cops mood.

[Memmy07]

My friend has had a green bay packers plate on the front of his car, instead of the regular plates, for more than a year. They've never pulled him over for that. I'm sure you'll be okay. If for whatever reason they do pull you over for that, just let them know that you didn't know cuz you're from outta state.

[Kioshi]

just let them know that you didn't know cuz you're from outta state.

Kind of hard to do....especially if your living in that state and the cops can pull up your car info like DMV can..

[Garrett9000]

I'll be staying in San Francisco with my fiance for about 6 months while I work a contract at Cisco, being a New Orleans resident my car is registered in Louisiana, which is a 1 plate state. I will be keeping my insurance and registration here in louisiana, I would never buy a car in california with all the emission controls.

By California law, if you are living in California for six months, you need to register your automobile in the State of California (therefore getting front and rear California license plates, and changing your insurance to the area that you'll be living), and obtain a California driver's licence.

[Garrett9000]

i think having two of the plates that you were issued displayed also has something to do with the traffic cameras here, since if you had no front plate and ran a red and the camera took a pic in front of you it couldnt get your plate numbers. not sure how cali laws apply to non-residents.

That's half of the reason why Californians need both front and rear license plates. Traffic cameras also help recover stolen vehicles, as do law enforcement officials. If there are two license plates being displayed on a stolen vehicle, that (theoretically) increases the chances of identifying the stolen vehicle by 50%.
Also, law enforcement officials are in development of a held-held license plate reading gun, similar to the laser bar code readers in a store.

[Kioshi]

That gun wont do them any good if someone is driving past them because they would stil need to pull them over and see their I.D.

[YarisSedan]

My friend who lives in sacramento was visiting me in Milpitas. He got hella pissed when he got here. He got pulled over and recieved a ticket for no license plate. Even though his camero had no mounting place for a front license plate and never recieved one nor had one for years. He had to go apply for a second license plate and then we had to drill some holes into his bumper to secure it so he could get his damn fix it ticket. Most retarded thing ive ever seen.

I never have front license plates on all my cars and ive been driving for about 10 years. Plus i live in milpitas which has the most cop to population ratio of any city in california i belive.